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C. W. WARNER, OF NEW HAVEN, VERMONT.

Letters .Patent No. 81,234, dated August 18, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-RAKES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT. MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, C. vW. WARNER, of New Haven, in the county of Addison, and State of Vermont, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Horse Hay-Rakes; and -I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, in working position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing the rake folded for transportation.

. Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the ralcelever.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of my rake.

My invention relates to 'that class of horse-raices which are constructed with revolving rakc-heads, and teeth projecting therefrom in two opposite directions, and it consists in an improved method of unlocking said rake-head, andimparting vto it the initial movement in its revolution, whereby both of said operations are consummated with one movementof the hand of the attendant. I

That others may understand the construction and operation of my invention, I will particularly describe it.

A A is the carriage, to which I prefer to attach my rake, C, by means of the drag-bars B B. In constructing the frame A, the ends of the shafts are permitted to project in rear of the axle, for the purpose of forming points of attachment for the hinged drag-bars B B. Said drag-bars may be curved, as showin'and at their rear ends they encircle the rake-head C by straps, which Vper-mit said rake-head to\revolve freely.

About midway of the length of the rake-head C are two ianges or collars, D E, provided with notches or eisets, as shown, so that the lockingbolt F and' latch G may engage with said flanges respectively, and the one restrain the rake from revolving in one direction, while the other prevents a revolution in the opposite direction. AWhen the bolt F is withdrawn from engagement with the collar D, then the rake will be i'rce to revolve forward, passing over the hay which has been gathered, and commcncinr to gather a fresh lot with'the teeth which were at the rear until the said rotary movement brought them to the front. But, in order to insure the taking place of said rotary movement, it isincccssary to give the rake a slight initiatory movement sufficient to cause the i`orward'points of the teeth to catch in the ground, and this initiatory movement is imparted through the medium of the latch G,.which is caused to pull the upper side of the rakc-head forward, and thus throw the points of the lingers downward toward the ground.

IIitherto it has been necessary to accomplish these two purposes by separate movements on the part of the attendantf rst, withdrawing the locking-holt, and, second, canting the rake-head to cause the points of the teeth to catch in the ground. By my devices, I accomplish them bothby one movement, and in such a way that there is no possibility thatthe apparatus may be broken by mistiming the second movement in regard to the irst.- The lever H is attached te the rake-head by means of a strap, which passes around said rake-head, so that the same may revolve Within said strap, and the bolt F andv latch Gr are both mounted upon said lever.

The bolt F is confined at its lower end by strapor loop I, through which it passes, and within which it is adjustable forward or backward by means of screw-pins, J, which project from the edge of the holt, and adjust imposition within the loop I. At the upper end of the bolt F is the link K, which connects said bolt to theI lever II, and the lever L is rigidly attached to said link, projecting therefrom in such a position aswill periuit it to rest upon the axle ofthe carriage A, a-s shown in figs. 2 and 4, when the machine is in operative condition. When the outer end of this levcr L is moved toward the lever II, then the link K is thereby moved.to a position more nearly Vat right angles with said lever H, and the effect of these movements is to withdraw the bolt F from engagement with the collar D, and permitthc ralie-l1ead C to revolve forward.

The latch G is made adjustable in the direction of its length by means of a slot, through which the screw M passes into the edge of thc lever II.

These adjustments of the bolt -F and latch G are necessary to enable the attendant -not only to take up slack or lost motion in the rake-head, between the bolt F and latch G, but to enable him to adjust the-position of the lever H in regard to the rake-head, so as to bring the upper end of said lever in a position convenient to his hand while the rake is in operation.

lVhen my rake is in operation, the rake-head C lies upon the ground, with the forward teeth extended in such a position as willy enable them to pass beneath the hay which is lying 'upon the ground. The lever L falls forward upon th'c axle of the carriage, and the bolt F and latch G, having engaged with notches inthe collars D and E, project upward and forward to a position convenient tothe drivers hand. y When, during the operation of the machine, suiicient grass has been gathered, and the attendant desires to deposit it, he presses downward upon the forward end of the lever H, thereby causing the lever L to withdrawthe holt F, and, by the action ot' the latch G, causing rake-head to rotate far enough to depress the forward ends of the teeth, and make them catch in the ground. As soon as' they do so catch in the ground, the rake-head rises up and fallsupon the ground again in advance ofthe mass et hay which has been justgathered, and by this rotation, deposited. When this half revolution has been performed, the bolt and latch aga-in engage with their respective collars, and the lever l-I reassumes its position, as in iig. 2.

When the machine is to bevtransported to or from the field, it is folded over upon the machine, as shown in g. 3.

I do not claim, broadly, a device by which the rake may be unlocked and the initial movement imparted to it by a single movement, that having been done before, but I am notaware that any revolving rake attached to wheels, has been hitherto, with a single lever projecting from the rake-bead to a position convenient to the drivers hand, by a single movement of which arlocking-bolt might be withdrawn, and an initial movement imparted tothe rake-head in the direction of its rotation. I am not aware, either, that with any revolving rake, attached to wheels, with illexible drag-bars, so that said rake might be folded upon the carriage-frame for transportation, a single lever has ever been cmployed, by a single movement of which the rake-head might he unlocked, and receive its initial movement in the direction of'its rotation. And further, I am not aware that the equivalents of the lever` L and link K havebeen hitherto employed in connection with a locking-bolt, a single lever, and arevolving rake-head, such as described.

The features above enumerated are considered to be essential to produce the bestlresnlts in the most satisfactory and economiealway, and that my` improvement lies in their embodiment in a horse-rake.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination, with the lever H, carriage-frame'A, and revolving rake C, the bolt F, link K, and lever L, or their equivalents, to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.l

, C. W. WARNER.

Witnesses:

A. P. Roscoe,V D. C. HALL. 

